Anticipation grows as Apple takes orders for iPad

Agam Shah |
March 15, 2010

Users hope to find new uses for the iPad

Greg Harris, an iPad application developer, placed an order to get a leg up over competitors. He is involved in the development of AppClix, a mobile-application usage reporting tool, which also includes new features specific to the iPad. The application has been tested using the iPad simulator, but he needs to get a real feel for how the application works on the iPad.

"Developers are concerned that Apple will start to release the apps on day one and we will not have a chance to really test them on the device," Harris said. "We wanted to make sure we had one here as soon as possible to get it tested in case there are any issues."

Depending on storage, iPad prices range from US$499 to $699 for Wi-Fi-only models, which will become available on April 3 in the U.S. Apple is also taking orders for iPad models with Wi-Fi and 3G mobile broadband, with prices ranging from $629 to $829. These will become available later in April.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment about preorders. Some Apple watchers, however, reported on blogs and at online IT media sites that preorders were coming in at the rate of 20,000 per hour.